 1 

Dr. ir. Eva Lantsoght

9/27/2018
 Introduction to event
 Current activities related to load
testing
 Overview of load testing
research TU Delft
 Recommendations
o Preparation of proof load tests
Slab shear experiments, TU Delft
o Execution of proof load tests
 Summary and conclusions

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 Presentations from Chancellor Grant 2016 at IALCCE 2018
o Kevin Benitez: Development of a stop criterion for load tests based
on the critical shear displacement theory
o Eva Lantsoght: Proposed stop criteria for proof load testing of
concrete bridges and verification
o Jose Eduardo Paredes: Nonlinear finite element analysis of beam
experiments for stop criteria
o Andres Rodriguez: Verification of flexural stop criteria for proof load
tests on concrete bridges based on beam experiments

 Presentation describing current practice in Ecuador at

IALCCE 2018
o Bridge diagnostic load testing in Ecuador – case studies J. Bonifaz,
S. Zaruma, A. Robalino & T.A. Sánchez

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 General introduction on load testing

 Presentation from Chancellor Grant 2016

o Kevin Benitez: Development of a stop criterion for load tests based
on the critical shear displacement theory

 Presentations describing current practice in Ecuador

o Santiago Camino: Proof loading of the new administration building
of Yachay University
o Andres Robalino: Bridge diagnostic load testing in Ecuador – case
studies

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 New load testing standards under development
o Germany
o USA – e-circular load testing bridges (committee chair)
o USA – ACI 437 for buildings (committee member)
o USA – ACI 342 for bridges (broader scope, chapter lead for chapter
load testing)
o Netherlands: further research
o fib – bulletin existing structures (corresponding author) + towards
new Model Code
 Conferences with MS and SS: ACI 2017, IABMAS 2018;
IALCCE 2016 + 2018, BEI 2019, fib 2017…

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 ACI SP-323 (co-editor)

 Frontiers Built Environment –

Bridge Engineering article
collection (guest associate
editor)

 Book: Load Testing of Bridges

(editor) – Structures and
Infrastructures series (2019)

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 At opening of new
bridge
 Reassure traveling
public

 Engineer stands under

bridge

 Proof load testing

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 Since 1950s: better
computational
methods

 Diagnostic load testing:

SLS

 Now: evaluation of
existing structures

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 Proof load testing of existing
bridges

 Mostly RC slab bridges

 Shear-critical
 Safety philosophy
 Safe execution?

 Theoretical work
 Pilot proof load tests
 Collapse tests

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 Bridges from 60s and 70s
Increased live loads

common heavy and long truck (600 kN)

The Hague in 1959

End of service life + larger loads

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 Diagnostic load testing Proof load testing

Delaware (Jones, 2011) Barcza ridge, Poland (Olaszek et

al., 2012)
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 Diagnostic load testing
 Calibration of FEM
 Strain gages over girder
height
 Low load levels (SLS)
 Rating with updated FEM
 Or: prior to opening
(presentation Andres R.)
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Proof load testing
 Directly demonstrate that
bridge fulfils criteria
 Higher load levels
 Larger involved risk
 Follow measurements
 Stop criteria
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 Safety philosophy
 Stop criteria:
o Further loading not permitted
o Failure near
o Irreversible damage near
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MSc Thesis W. Vos
 Apply predetermined load
to bridge
o Information lacking
o Damage due to ASR, …

 Proof load testing

o Immediate approval of
bridge
o Recalculate updated β
o RC slab bridges

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 DAfStB Richtlinie
 Stop criteria
o Concrete strain
o Steel strain
o Crack width and residual
crack width (new & existing
cracks)
o Residual deflection
 For flexure
 Structures with large existing
cracking?

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 North America:
o Buildings: ACI 437.2M-13
o Bridges: Manual of Bridge
Rating Through Load Testing
(1998)
 ACI 437.2M-13 stop criteria:
o Residual deflection
o Permanency ratio
o Deviation from Linearity Index

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 Practical recommendations for proof load testing

 Flexure + shear

 Stop criteria?

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 Proof load tests:
o Heidijk 2007
o Medemblik 2009
o Vlijmen-Oost 2013
o Halvemaans Bridge 2014
o Ruytenschildt Bridge 2014
o Viaduct in the Zijlweg 2015
o Viaduct De Beek 2015
o Vecht Bridge 2016 Load test to failure of Ruytenschildt Bridge, summer 2014

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 Field inspection
o Dimensions
o Same lay-out as plans?
o Material properties
o Damage maps
o Site restrictions
 Prior assessment
o Live load: EN 1991-2:2003
o RBK load levels

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 Critical position
o Bending moment: largest
moment
o Shear: 2.5d from Support

 Required proof load

o Same shear or bending
moment as with load
combination
o Value → considered safety
level

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  Cyclic loading scheme
o Acoustic emission measurements
o Check linearity and reproducibility of measurements
o Check residual deformations
 Stop criteria
o Evaluated during tests
o Research in progress
o Criteria for shear failure need to be developed
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  Beams from Ruytenschildt Bridge
o Cyclic loading protocol
o Tests: Failure in shear and flexure Beams RSB01 after failure (Yang, 2015)

 Beams cast in lab

o plain reinforcement
o cyclic loading
o shear and flexural failure
Beams RSB02B after failure (Yang, 2015)

Yang, Y. (2015). "Experimental Studies on the Structural Behaviours of Beams from Ruytenschildt Bridge,"
Stevin Report 25.5-15-09, Delft University of Technology, Delft, 76 pp.

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  Load testing: international interest
 History: prior to opening
 Now: existing bridges

 Best practices
o Identify goals
o Preparation
o Inspection Viaduct Zijlweg, tested in summer 2015
o Monitoring
o Cyclic loading

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 (Former) colleagues at TU Delft: Albert Bosman, Sebastiaan
Ensink, Dick Hordijk, Rutger Koekkoek, Marco Roosen, Cor
van der Veen, Patrick van Hemert, Yuguang Yang
 Students at TU Delft: Arthur Ennoudi, Rik Tersteeg, Werner
Vos
 Rijkswaterstaat: Ane de Boer, Sonja Fennis, Marius
Naaktgeboren, Herbert van der Ham
 Contractors: de Boer en de Groot, Witteveen+Bos (Frank
Linthorst, Danny den Boef)
 Load execution: Mammoet: Otto Illing, Chris Huissen
 Funding: Noord Holland, Friesland, Rijkswaterstaat,
Chancellor Grants USFQ

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Contact:
Eva Lantsoght
elantsoght@usfq.edu.ec // E.O.L.Lantsoght@tudelft.nl
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